"Fu Hua, what are you doing here?" Kiana asked curiously. It was rare to see Fu Hua anywhere but the training grounds, where she was usually practicing martial arts.
Fu Hua adjusted her glasses with her usual calm poise.
"The headmaster asked me to check on your progress—and to test whether you're actually studying, not just wasting time."
Kiana puffed her chest out proudly.
"Go ahead! With Oberon and Mei-senpai tutoring me, I bet I can ace every exam!"
Oberon raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
"Really? After all that big talk, I'll be surprised if you even pass half your exams," he said, smirking slightly before turning to Fu Hua.
"Fu Hua, I'll leave Kiana in your care then. I still have other students asking for help," he said with a teasing lilt to his voice as he stood up and started to walk away.
"Stop right there, Oberon!" Kiana jumped up, grabbed his collar, and pulled him close, staring at him with pleading eyes.
"Please don't leave me alone with them! If you go, where will I get the answers?!" she whispered desperately. "I can't let Mei-senpai see me get humiliated!"
Unfortunately for Kiana, her "secret" whisper wasn't so secret. Mei and Fu Hua, standing behind her, had heard every word.
Fu Hua placed a firm hand on Kiana's shoulder.
"Kiana, cheating is forbidden. If you keep relying on others, you'll never grow. A wise man once said: 'Study without getting tired, and teach without getting weary.'"
Kiana tilted her head, confused.
"Uh… what does that even mean?"
Oberon sighed.
"It means work hard and keep learning, instead of looking for shortcuts. In short — no cheating. Do it on your own."
He ruffled her hair teasingly, which made Kiana elbow him in the stomach.
"Ugh!" Oberon groaned, holding his stomach. "Is that how you show gratitude?"
Kiana just snorted, marched back to her seat, and slammed a book open, glaring at it like it had personally offended her.
"Well, if that's all, I'm off. Good luck surviving." Oberon waved casually as he left the library.
---
[A Few Weeks Later]
Weeks passed, and the second semester began. The students of St. Freya Academy gathered at the training grounds, dressed in their Valkyrie armor.
Among them, four figures stood out, dominating both the theory and practical exams, except for a certain white haired girl.
The first was a young woman in pink armor that accentuated her figure, her long purple hair tied in a ponytail with hime-cut bangs framing her face.
The second wore a sleek, white combat bodysuit with black shorts and orange-lined patterns tracing her curves. Her twin braids, tied with red rings, her bright blue eyes shining with determination.
The third was a petite girl who looked no older than 14 or 15, dressed in a navy-blue military outfit. Her mechanical leg gleamed as the massive "Project Bunny" robot loomed protectively behind her.
And lastly — a man, his silvery-lilac hair flowing down past his shoulders, his soft, moth-like outfit giving him an otherworldly, almost fae presence.
These four were none other than Raiden Mei, heiress of ME Corp; Kiana Kaslana, the reckless yet powerful Kaslana descendant; Bronya Zaychik, ex-member of Anti-Entropy; and Oberon — the Faerie King himself, the magnificent, the mysterious… and, admittedly, the best "support farmer" one could ask for.
-----------
""Hnng!! This is getting tiring. When is this gonna start?" Kiana groaned, stretching her arms dramatically.
"Probably in five minutes," Oberon replied casually, glancing at her as she stretched and yawned at the same time.
"Ugh! This is so boring! They should just start the exam instead of making us wait five or ten minutes! Hmph!" Kiana pouted, crossing her arms and frowning in Mei's direction.
"Hehehe~ Kiana, you should really learn to be patient. Principal Theresa is probably busy right now, so we just have to wait a little longer," Mei said with a gentle chuckle.
"Project Kiana," Bronya interrupted flatly, "according to data analysis, even if the exam started earlier, your chances of failing remain at ninety-nine percent—whether it's practical, theory, or combat."
"Hah?! What was that, brat-niya?!" Kiana spun to face her, glaring. "I didn't hear you over how SHORT you are!"
Bronya blinked slowly. "I see. Forgive me, idiotka. I must have forgotten that you're deaf as well. Worry not—Da Bronya can learn sign language to communicate with you."
Kiana's face turned red. "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"
The two of them started bickering loudly, Mei smiling nervously as she tried to calm them down.
"What are you smiling at, Mei?" Oberon's voice broke through her thoughts, making her flinch before turning to him.
"N-Nothing, Oberon," she said quickly.
"Heh... Something on your mind?" His sky-blue eyes glinted playfully as he looked at her.
"As expected, nothing escapes your eyes, does it, Oberon?" Mei smiled softly, then sighed. "I was just thinking… I wish moments like this would last forever. No fighting, no Honkai, no danger—just friends and family spending time together."
Her gaze shifted back to Kiana and Bronya, still arguing like children.
"Hmm," Oberon nodded slowly. "Indeed, moments like this make us wish for eternity. But alas, the threat against humanity still lingers." His expression softened, and he let out a small breath. "Perhaps one day, we really will live like this—peacefully, happily."
The sun broke through the clouds, casting a warm light across the training grounds as if echoing his words.
Just then, a loudspeaker crackled to life, followed by a small figure stepping onto the stage. The girl wore nun-like clothes, a black veil resting neatly atop her head.
"Test, test! 1, 2, 3! Ahem." Her petite, childlike voice rang out with a tone of authority. "Good morning, students!"
It was none other than Principal Theresa Apocalypse.
"Today is your final exam. A simulation where you must fight Honkai zombies and beasts—your performance will determine your scores." She scanned the students below with a serious look before continuing.
"This is a simulation battle, so you will form groups of three. Analyze your enemies carefully before rushing in, understood?" She gave a small nod and left the stage, leaving the students murmuring in excitement.
Moments later, Himeko appeared, microphone in hand.
"This simulation has three difficulty levels—Easy, Intermediate, and Hard. Each has its own bosses and enemy waves. Don't worry, the Honkai creatures you'll face are data constructs, but they can hurt you. Their power is capped at thirty percent, which is why groups of three are mandatory. Learn to work together and adapt."
With that, she gestured for them to begin, and the students scattered, forming groups.
Kiana, Mei, Bronya, and Oberon exchanged glances. Oberon gave them a thumbs-up.
"I'll find my own group. Good luck, you three."
The trio nodded, Mei and Bronya already discussing strategy while Kiana half-listened.
"Now then… where should I look?" Oberon muttered, scanning the grounds until his gaze landed on a girl with bright orange hair, fidgeting nervously.
"There we go. Perfect." He smirked and walked over.
"Heya. Are you in a group yet?" he asked casually.
"E-Eh?!" The girl jumped, turning her head toward him with wide eyes. "I… uh… am… not really…?"
Oberon tilted his head.
"Are you asking yourself, or answering me?"
The girl flinched, her face turning a bit red. "I-I mean… answering! Sorry! I just… don't usually get asked first."
"Hm." Oberon crossed his arms, pretending to think seriously. "Well, that depends. Are you strong enough not to drag me down?"
Her eyes widened, and she puffed her cheeks. "H-Hey! I'm plenty strong! I wouldn't be here if I wasn't qualified!"
Oberon chuckled, amused by her reaction. "Good answer. Alright then—welcome to my team, Miss…?"
"Susannah," she said, still pouting a little.
"Susannah, huh?" Oberon smirked and extended his hand dramatically. "Then let's work together. I promise to only let you take half the hits."
"Half—?!" She stared at him for a moment before realizing he was joking. "You're making fun of me, aren't you?"
"Maybe." His sky-blue eyes glinted mischievously. "But hey, if you impress me in the simulation, I might even let you take zero hits."
Susannah rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Fine, mister mysterious. But if you get yourself knocked out, I'm not carrying you back to the infirmary."
"Fair enough," Oberon said with a grin. "Let's find one more person for our trio before everyone else takes the good ones."
As they walked, Oberon glanced sideways at her. "By the way, Susannah… do you get nervous before tests like this?"
Susannah hesitated, then admitted quietly, "A little. It's not that I'm scared of fighting… just scared of failing in front of everyone."
Oberon gave her a small, surprisingly gentle smile. "Don't worry. If you fail, I'll make sure to fail even harder so everyone laughs at me instead."
Her eyes widened, then she burst into laughter. "You're strange… but I think I like that."
"Good," Oberon said, turning his gaze forward again. "Stick with me, and I promise this exam will be anything but boring." Then another walk towards them, bright yellow hair, her clothes are like a military based dress that gives a vibrant yellowish green color.
"Heiya, Mr. Fairy King! Need one last member?" Augusta called out casually, her eyes darting between Oberon and the nervous Susannah.
"That is indeed correct, Augusta~," Oberon replied with a charming smile. Augusta grinned back, clearly pleased.
"Perfect! Then we'll be a trio. Lucky me — Oberon, you know half the girls here have been looking for you, right? They've been circling around like vultures, desperate to join your team. But guess what? Looks like I hit the jackpot."
Oberon only chuckled softly and shook his head, amused by her teasing. Augusta then turned her attention to Susannah, who fidgeted and mumbled nervously, still stuttering whenever she tried to speak.
Some time later, the simulation finally began. Most groups quickly chose the easy difficulty, unwilling to risk facing the more dangerous Honkai beasts. The few that tried intermediate or hard difficulty ended up being carted off to the infirmary — their egos bruised more than their bodies.
After a while, Himeko's voice rang across the field.
"Oberon, Susannah, and Augusta — step forward for your combat test!"
The moment their names were called, dozens of eyes turned toward them. The sudden attention made Susannah freeze, her grip tightening around her weapon as her knees trembled.
"Relax, Susannah," Oberon said calmly, his tone almost playful. "What are you so nervous about?"
"Yeah," Augusta added, hooking her arm around Susannah with a reassuring grin. "There's nothing to worry about. Worst-case scenario, we just get a low score and try again — but let's not do that, okay? We'll just do our best this time!"
Susannah nodded timidly at their encouragement. Her fidgeting slowed, though she still looked like a deer about to bolt.
-----
Just as they arrived at the center, Himeko's voice echoed:
"Alright, are you ready?"
They nodded.
Twenty honkai zombies materialized around them, their bodies twitching unnaturally as corrupted energy leaked from their cores. Six Rangers raised their spectral bows, six Vigiles dragged oversized scythes behind them, six Jun-ninja crouched low with eerie precision, and two floating Revenants loomed ominously, their coffins glowing faintly.
Susannah swallowed hard, gripping her weapon.
"Th-that's a lot more than I imagined..."
Oberon calmly stepped forward, his silver-lilac hair fluttering like a curtain of moonlight.
"Relax. It's just data. And besides—" He glanced at Susannah over his shoulder with a teasing grin. "—I'm here, aren't I?"
"Showoff," Augusta muttered with a smirk as she unsheathed her sword.
The horn blared.
The simulation began.
The first volley of arrows flew toward them — but before they could land, Oberon snapped his fingers. A golden ripple spread across the ground, forming a shining ring beneath their feet. The arrows slowed midair, as if caught in honey, before vanishing into particles.
"Support field deployed," Oberon said casually, like he'd just turned on the lights. "Go wild."
Augusta grinned. "Gladly!"
She dashed forward, cutting through the first Ranger before it could fire again. Her blade gleamed as she spun, knocking another zombie to the ground.
Susannah hesitated only a moment before charging as well, swinging her lance with both hands. The weapon struck the ground, releasing a shockwave that sent three Vigiles stumbling back.
"Nice one!" Oberon called out, snapping his fingers again. His butterfly dust spun faster, coating Susannah's weapon with a faint golden glow. "Try hitting them again — harder this time."
Susannah blinked, then obeyed — and nearly gasped when her next strike cleaved straight through a Vigiles' scythe like butter, shattering the data construct into shards.
"I-I did it!"
"Of course you did," Oberon said with a smug tilt of his head. "I don't buff losers."
Susannah's face turned red — but this time it was from determination rather than nerves.
The Kunoichi lunged in unison, their katanas slicing through the air. Augusta blocked the first strike, pivoted, and countered, while Susannah used her newly-empowered strikes to knock back the others.
Oberon stood perfectly still in the center of the chaos, hands clasped behind his back like a conductor directing an orchestra. Every so often he would flick his wrist, summoning golden butterflies that latched onto his teammates, healing their scratches or restoring stamina.
Finally, the two Revenants moved, their coffins opening to release a swarm of Vigiles toward the trio.
"Tch. Persistent." Oberon's expression darkened. He raised his hand, and a massive Beetle appeared above them --- and flattening them.
Oberon's eyes trailed to Susannah and Augusta,
"Augusta. Susannah. Get behind me."
They obeyed without hesitation.
With a snap, Oberon activated the spell.
The entire battlefield flooded with golden light, tearing through the chains, disintegrating every zombie at once. The Revenants shrieked before they shattered into fragments of data.
When the light faded, nothing remained of the enemy.
The simulation declared: [Stage Cleared. Score: S+]
The students watching erupted into murmurs, impressed.
"Whoa… he wiped them all out in one move…"
"I heard Oberon was strong, but seeing it in person is… terrifying."
Susannah lowered her lance, still wide-eyed.
"W-We really did it…!"
"Of course we did," Oberon said with a satisfied smile, brushing nonexistent dust off his sleeve. "We are the jackpot team, remember?"
Augusta chuckled, resting her sword on her shoulder.
"Not bad, Fairy King. You actually made this fun."
"Fun?" Oberon smirked. "this was just the warm-up~."
---
With that, Oberon's group returned to their seats. No sooner had they sat down than the final group was called — Mei, Kiana, and Bronya.
While Bronya and Mei calmly discussed which difficulty to choose, Kiana — being Kiana — immediately slammed the hard difficulty button with a grin.
Bronya sighed loudly, giving Kiana a side-eye.
"What? It's not even that hard! What's there to worry about?" Kiana said, twirling her pistols around her fingers.
"Idiotka is always an Idiotka," Bronya muttered in her usual flat tone. Mei could only sigh softly at Kiana's antics before smiling and nodding.
"Let's go, Bronya, Kiana."
The trio stepped into the simulation chamber. The moment the program booted up, fifty Honkai zombies materialized: ten Rangers, ten Vigiles, ten Kunoichi, ten Revenants, and ten Razor Claws.
Bronya stared at Kiana, unimpressed. Kiana just whistled and looked away.
The countdown hit GO — and the swarm charged.
Mei moved first, her blade flashing like a streak of lightning.
"Hyah!"
She danced across the battlefield, every slash leaving trails of crackling electricity. The air hissed as plasma-like arcs cut through zombie after zombie with flawless precision.
But from the shadows, a Kunoichi sprang forward, aiming for Mei's exposed back—
CRACK!
A flying kick smashed into the Kunoichi's face, sending it sprawling backward—only for Kiana to finish it with a perfectly placed headshot before landing behind Mei.
"Hah! Did you really think you can touch Mei-senpai while I'm here? Not a chance, freak!" Kiana said with a cocky grin before twirling her pistols and dashing forward.
"Thank you, Kiana!" Mei replied, pivoting into a spinning slash. Lightning surged from her sword, scattering several zombies like leaves in a storm.
Kiana launched into her gun-kata, weaving between enemies with fluid precision, bullets tearing through their ranks.
Just then, an arrow whistled toward Kiana — she ducked, eyes snapping to the shooter — before a rain of micro-bombs detonated across its face, shattering it to digital fragments.
Bronya stood at a distance, Project Bunny's cannons still smoking as it unleashed a barrage at the remaining enemies.
One by one, the last of the zombies fell. The simulation's screen flashed:
[STAGE CLEARED. SCORE: SS+]
"WOOOHOOO!" Kiana jumped, throwing her pistols into the air and catching them dramatically. "HECK YEAH!! LOOK AT THAT, OBERON! WE TOTALLY SMASHED YOUR SCORE!"
Sweat ran down her cheek, but her grin was triumphant. Mei, breathing hard, simply smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
Oberon chuckled softly from the seats, resting his chin on his hand.
"My, my… quite the display," he said with a mischievous smirk. "Though, if I recall correctly, you did get swarmed for a few seconds there, didn't you?"
"HEY! That was just a warm-up!" Kiana shot back, glaring at him while still panting.
Oberon stiffen his laugh and, "Hey, now. A warm up? I didn't know getting swarmed by zombies is a 'warm up'~."
"Shut it!" Kiana huffed, crossing her arms — though the satisfied grin never left her face.
---
Heiyah, me back now, now me can probably be able to update regularly, and once again, thanks for supporting this fanfiction! I've been reviewing HI3 plot before it strayed off to the plot. ✨✨🦋🦋
ALSO WTHFJEIWUGEGEJIWUE, I JUST REALIZE half of the chapter is missing and only chat gpt answer remain, MAN WJIENENEIEJDJIDUD SORRY! (ᗒᗩᗕ)
The last time I check my notes, all of them was in was intact with no wrong or anything but dang, why, just why. After sleeping for four hours, I checked it and yeah, IT is NOT something I expected.